Sunsari District ( ) is one of 14 districts in Koshi province of eastern Nepal. The district is located in the eastern part of the Outer Terai and covers an area of . According to the 2011 Nepal census, the population was 753,328. The district headquarters is located in Inaruwa.

History Sunsari, in southeastern Nepal, occupies an important position in the historical landscape of the eastern Himalaya and the Koshi–Kankai region. Its fertile plains, forests, and river systems have supported human settlement since ancient times. Archaeological discoveries in the eastern Terai, including sites around Sunsari and neighbouring Morang and Jhapa, indicate prehistoric and early historic occupation, although the precise ethnic identity of the earliest inhabitants cannot always be established from archaeological evidence alone.Tribhuvan University Central Library. Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites in Eastern Terai of Nepal.Karki, Babu Ram. “Historical ruins await preservation.” The Rising Nepal, 2026.

In historical traditions, the wider Koshi region is associated with the Kirat/Kirata peoples and their political influence. The Arun, Tamor and Koshi river systems connected the Himalayan hills with the Terai, facilitating movement, agriculture, trade and cultural exchange. Sunsari was therefore part of a broader cultural zone linking the Kirat-inhabited eastern hills with the plains. During the medieval and early modern periods, the eastern Terai and hill regions were politically connected with Morang and Vijaypur. The Sen rulers of Makwanpur and later the Sen polity centred at Vijaypur exercised influence over parts of eastern Nepal. Local chiefs and indigenous communities retained considerable authority within this political framework Francis Buchanan Hamilton (1819), An Account of the Kingdom of Nepal The Gorkha expansion uder Prithvi Narayan Shah and his successors gradually incorporated the eastern territories into the expanding Nepalese state. The conquest and subsequent administrative reorganisation transformed the older political structure of the region. Today, Sunsari preserves important historical and cultural sites, particularly Barahakshetra, while its archaeological landscape reflects a much longer history of human settlement than the modern district boundary suggests. Its history should therefore be understood through archaeology, indigenous traditions, regional chronicles and the political history of Morang–Vijaypur.Brihattar Barahakshetra Development Committee, Government of Koshi Province.

Administration The district consists of two Sub-metropolitan Cities, four urban municipalities and six rural municipalities. These are as follows:

Sub-metropolitan cities Itahari Dharan

Municipalities Inaruwa Duhabi Ramdhuni-Bhasi Barahachhetra Municipality

Rural municipalities Koshi Gadhi Barju Bhokraha Narsingh Harinagar Dewanganj

Geography and climate

Climate Zone Elevation Range % of Area Lower Tropical below 86.6% Upper Tropical  7.8% Subtropical  2.0%

Demographics

2021 At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, Sunsari District had a population of 926,962. 8.42% of the population is under 5 years of age. It has a literacy rate of 78.10% and a sex ratio of 1064 females per 1000 males. 665,015 (71.74%) lived in municipalities.

Sunsari has huge ethnic diversity with 115 castes/ethnic groups represented. The largest communities are the Muslims and Tharu. Other communities include the Janajati Limbu and other Kirati peoples.

As their first language, 32.80% of the population spoke Nepali, 28.18% Maithili, 11.59% Tharu, 7.98% Urdu, 2.69% Kurukh, 2.63% Limbu, 1.84% Bantawa, 1.59% Tamang, 1.51% Rai, 1.40% Newari and 1.14% Magar as their first language.In 2011, Nepali was spoken by 28.8% of the population as their first language.

Religion: 74.35% were Hindu, 12.34% Muslim, 7.72% Kirat Mundhum, 3.64% Buddhist and 1.69% Christian and 0.26% others.

2011 At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Sunsari District had a population of 763,487.

The most widely spoken language is Nepali: 28.8% spoke Nepali, followed by 28.5% Maithili. NepalMap Language

Ethnicity/caste: 12.1% were Tharu, 11.5% Muslims, 9.2% Chhetri, 7.9% Hill Brahmin, 6.6% Rai, 4.3% Yadav, 4.0% Kushwaha/Koiri, 3.8% Newar, 3.4% Musahar, 3.2% Limbu, 3.1% Jhangad/Dhagar, 2.3% Tamang, 2.3% Teli, 2.2% Kami, 2.0% Magar, 1.6% Dhanuk, 1.5% Bantar/Sardar, 1.2% Chamar/Harijan/Ram, 1.1% Halwai, 1.0% Damai/Dholi, 1.0% Gurung, 0.8% Kathabaniyan, 0.8% Khatwe, 0.6% Gharti/Bhujel, 0.6% Majhi, 0.6% Mallaha, 0.6% Marwadi, 0.6% other Terai, 0.5% Terai Brahmin, 0.5% Dhimal, 0.5% Hajam/Thakur, 0.5% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.4% Dusadh/Paswan/Pasi, 0.4% Kulung, 0.4% Sarki, 0.3% Bantawa, 0.3% Bengali, 0.3% Gaderi/Bhedihar, 0.3% Kalwar, 0.3% Kewat, 0.3% Khawas, 0.3% Sarbaria, 0.3% Tatma/Tatwa, 0.2% Badhaee, 0.2% Chamling, 0.2% Dom, 0.2% Kayastha, 0.2% Kumal, 0.2% Kumhar, 0.2% Rajbanshi, 0.2% Rajput, 0.2% Sherpa, 0.2% Sudhi, 0.2% Sunuwar, 0.1% Amat, 0.1% Badi, 0.1% Baraee, 0.1% Bhote, 0.1% Danuwar, 0.1% Dhobi, 0.1% Kurmi, 0.1% Lohar, 0.1% Munda, 0.1% Nuniya, 0.1% Pattharkatta/Kushwadiya, 0.1% Punjabi/Sikh, 0.1% Rajbhar, 0.1% Rajdhov, 0.1% Sonar, 0.1% Thakuri, 0.1% Thulung, 0.1% Yakkha and 0.3% others. NepalMap Caste

Religion: 73.3% were Hindu, 11.5% Muslim, 6.9% Kirati, 4.4% Buddhist, 1.9% Prakriti, 1.5% Christian, 0.1% Jain and 0.4% others. NepalMap Religion

Literacy: 68.0% could read and write, 2.0% could only read and 29.9% could neither read nor write. NepalMap Literacy

Former VDCs

Amaduwa Amahibelha Aurabani Bakalauri Barahachhetra Basantapur Bhadgaun Sinawari (now Ramdhuni-Bhasi Municipality) Bhaluwa (now Duhabi-Bhaluwa Municipality) Bharaul VDC Bhokraha Bishnupaduka (now Dharan Municipality) Chadwela Chhitaha Chimdi Dewanganj Dharan Municipality Duhabi-Bhaluwa Municipality Dumaraha Gautampur Ghuski Harinagar Haripur Inaruwa Municipality Itahari Municipality Jalpapur Kaptanganj Laukahi Madheli Madhesa Madhuwan Madhyeharsahi Mahendranagar Narshinhatappu Panchakanya (now Dharan Municipality) Paschim Kasuha Prakashpur Purbakushaha Ramdhuni-Bhasi Municipality Ramganj Belgachhi Ramganj Senuwari Ramnagar Bhutaha Sahebgunj Satterjhora Simariya Singiya (now Ramdhuni-Bhasi Municipality) Sonapur Sripurjabdi Tanamuna

See also Zones of Nepal Koshi Premier League 2025 Koshi Premier League

References

External links Official Web Portal of Sunsari District